Porto, FP2: Huff further improves track record

The track record was improved once again in the second practice, as Rob Huff set the fastest lap of 2:05.719 and inflicted more than one second to the rest of the field, with Yvan Muller second (2:06.766), Gabriele Tarquini third (2:07.102) and Tom Coronel fourth (2:07.262).

Tiago Monteiro posted the fifth fastest lap (2:07.716) with Franz Engstler in sixth (2:07.833) and best of the Yokohama Trophy.

The session was delayed five minutes to change a concrete kerb of the pit chicane, broken by a car from a support race. Another consequence of the incident was a long trail of oil that made the track slippery.

Therefore the drivers were very cautious during their first laps out, but as they gained confidence, lap times began to improve and eventually they were even faster than those set in the morning’s practice.

Halfway through the session, Huff was the first to go under the 2:08 mark (2:07.507), but soon Tarquini improved to 2:07.102 and then Muller did even better, completing a lap in 2:06.766.

Positions seemed to be frozen for good after Norbert Michelisz brushed the wall at Turn 15 with the back of his BMW, causing a yellow flag. However, as soon as the green flag was waved again, Huff managed to set the new lap record.